<h4>Chapter 7 – PEDLAR</h4>
The season has changed to an early summer from spring.
「…it’s been nearly two months, huh?」
It has nearly been two months since Jin came to Kaina Vige. During that time he has installed a pump, dug a hot spring, and maintained the drainage. He has also built a bicycle trailer and a wheelbarrow.
He created the bicycle trailer because it looked like it was difficult for Hanna to carry the water. As for when he made the wheelbarrow, it was surprisingly convenient and gained poprity so one was deployed to each family.
Right now, Jin was ying a game of tag with the children. Up till now, this world, or at least this vige did not have the concept of ying. They are able to y because there is no distinction of women, and now ying has be popr.
「This time Jin-niichan is the oni」 ?
「Alright it’s my turn. I’ll count to 10 now. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8…」
All the children run away.
「9… 10!」
「Okay, here Ie!」
「Waaaah!」
Martha gazed at the heartwarming scene.
「After Jin came, that girl 《Hanna》 has be extremely lively even though she was grieving after her parents died」
「Alright, I’ve caught the first one」
Because of the increasing oni rule, the oni gradually increased. It ended once everyone has be an oni.
「Got you Hanna-chan~」
「Caught you Kurt!」
「Wait up Mario!」
「I’ll catch you Jessie」
They continued until it became dark. After that they washed their sweaty body in the hot spring,ing home with a refreshed look on their face.
Recently, it felt like Hanna’s hair had been getting more lustrous. From a dull gold to a shiny gold. Could it be an effect of the hot spring? Arriving home, Jin followed after Hanna who trotted in.
「I’m home~」
「We’re back」
「Wee home Hanna, Jin」
Martha who was preparing dinner, greeted them home.
「You must be hungry, I’ll have something ready soon」
「Sorry for having you make my share all the time」
「It’s fine, my life has been much morefortable than it was before thanks to you」
In fact, the need to carry the water was drastically reduced to the point that the hot water from the hot spring could be used for washing. It was considerably convenient.
「Okay, it’s done!」
「Wow, this is delicious!」
Tonight’s menu is fried eggs and stir-fried vegetables.
「There isn’t much salt left so you’ll have to put up with it being lightly seasoned」
Martha sounded apologetic. Hearing that, Jin asks her.
「Oh, I see. But isn’t it a problem if there’s no salt?」
「It’s fine, I can just buy some from Rnd who will probably being tomorrow or the day after.」
「Rnd?」
Not being familiar with the name, Jin asked again.
「Rnd is a per. About once every two months, hees to sell fabric, clothes, salt or sugar, a variety of dried fish, and all kinds of food.」
「I see」
As expected, it seems impossible to be self-sufficient.
「Then I’ll need money」
Before he could say that the rubies he brought was his living expenses, Martha interrupted him.
「There’s no need for money, you’ll need to barter. Because this is a remote vige, there’s no means to earn any money.」
Rnd also has information, although Martha wryly smiled when she said that.
＊ ＊ ＊
As Martha said, the next day at noon, a single wagon appeared. Arge wagon drawn by two horses. Riding it were two people.
The vige chief, Gibekku weed them.
「Oh! Rnd-san, wee. Eric-san hasn’t seemed to change either.」
Rnd looked like a sturdy 40 year old man, Eric was a tender-looking man not yet 20. You can tell they are parent and child from their hair and looks. The two carried a short sword on their waist. Probably for self defence.
「Greetings. The vige chief also seems to be in good health.」
「Thank you. My niece has been looking forward to Eric’s return.」
Hearing that, Eric’s face lit up red. He seemed to have feelings for the vige chief’s niece. Ignoring Eric, Rnd continued.
「We were ahead of our schedule by about one or two days. This time we’ve brought a lot of salt.」
「Oohhh, is that so? That is great」
Before summer, the demand for salt increased.
Rnd immediately parked the horse-drawn carriage at the central square of the vige and put out a simple table, lining up the goods on it.
「First of all, for food there is salt, sugar, and themon dried fish. There is also this dark seed. It is resistant to the heat so you can sow it now」
「Can you give me some salt?」
「Yes, it’s 1 bag of wheat for 200 grams.」
「How about sugar?」
「Yes, it will be 20 sheets of fur for 2 kilograms」
「Can you distribute a little of the dark seeds for this?」
「Oh, this looks like a good ore. I’ll give you a little bonus」
Everyone seems to be exchanging wheat and fur, and asionally the ore of a jewel. Eric eagerly watched.
When the food waspletely bought, Eric helped Rnd rece the goods. Now there were fabrics, clothing and tools.
Jin was watching from a little distance away, looking at what kind of tools were being sold.
「Hmm, aside from fabrics and clothes, is that antern? Also is that a pen and ink?」
By the way, the vige chief had bought a pen and ink.
「I’d like to talk to youter if that’s alright」
A talk about outside of the vige, and if possible, he wanted to hear about this world was what Jin thought. The next day, they came to give him what they talked about.
＊ ＊ ＊
After finishing his business, Rnd put his goods and table away into the horse-drawn carriage.
「Well then, let me show you to a nice ce」
The vige chief said to the two people.
「A nice ce?」
「Yes, here it is」
The vige chief guided them to the hot spring.
「What is this ce? It wasn’t here when west came was it?」
「Yes, it was onlypleted a few days ago. It is called a 『Hot Spring』」
「Hot spring is it?」
「Well anyway, please enter」
The feeling of entering the hot spring was not just that of hot water, needless to say, Rnd and Eric were surprised.